This is, Sorry Was Scherese Bishop She died in 2011 because the Battalion Chief left his post early and left the fire district (Northeast Fire and Protection District) short handed. The Battalion Chief was Kenneth Farwell. This year Farwell was asked to step down as Battalion Chief and as Chief Medical Officer as what the Council calls a Administrative oversight for failing to renew the Districts ...narcotics licenses.
This is not Farwell's first flub up, Last year he also failed to renew the districts narcotics licenses which landed the fire district on two years of probation. Still no disciplinary action was taken against Farwell. When he left his post early in 2011, and the district had responded to several calls without Farwell the added stress on Bishop was enough to send her into cardiac arrest.
There was a third ambulance at the district fire house, According to Farwell, was sitting outside and was not stocked or ready for use. When responding to Paramedic Bishops emergency, had the 3rd ambulance been Prep and ready, Bishop might have lived.
But under Farwell's leadership the ambulance was not ready for service, so a fire truck was dispatched to Bishops Emergency call. Now there is no way to transport a patient in a fire truck. So North East Fire Protection District Under Farwell's absence of Command sends for an ambulance out of district.
When if their own ambulance had been ready it was approximately 1 mile away. 45 minutes later Bishop is transported to get medical attention! This is not the only time Farwell has shirked his responsibilities as Battalion Chief and Chief Medical Officer. Farwell's District has had legal action taken against them in the form of a wrongful death suit filed by Bishop's family earlier this year. After the suit was filed Farwell was asked to resign as Battalion Chief and Chief Medical. Farwell is still allowed to continue to work at the district as a firefighter and as a EMT. Several legal suits has been filed involving Farwell from sexual harassment, negligence and wrongful termination. And Farwell is still allowed to work at Northeast Fire and Protection District.
A Fireman is Supposed to be a symbol of trust, someone who you can count on with your life. Not some one who puts planning the opening of a bar over the job the he is paid to do, especially at the cost of a life! Mrs. Bishop had a family and children. Farwell's ineptness took that away. His only concern is getting people to that bar and trying to make money for himself. He post ads stating that proceeds will go to charity. Earlier this year (2013) He put on a fund raiser stating that 60% of the proceeds would go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Needless to say that no proceeds were issued to the Komen Foundation from Farwell. Instead Farwell was asked to cease and desist by the Komen Foundation. Farwell does not have what it takes to do the job as a firefighter or EMT anymore and should not be retained on payroll. But should be replaced by someone who has the spirit and humanity for a career of this sort. I remember as a child being told "You can always rely on a fireman" But I can not let one person shake my faith. I believe there are a lot of great Firemen and Paramedics that are still truly Hero's. Honorable and brave, like the men at Ground Zero on 9/11 . Men And Women Like that make me proud to be an American! Not people like Farwell!